Metal container



W. F. PILLNlK METAL CONTAINER Sept. 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. l0. 1960 Sept. 25, 1962 w. F. PILLNIK METAL CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l0, 1960 INVENToR. WAL 7' R FAMA/K P/LM//K BY MQW United States Patent O 3,055,539 METAL CNTAINER Walter Frank Pillnik, Fox River Grove, Ill., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 48,706 15 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) The present invention relates to a metal container having a tear strip opener, and more particularly to an improved form of such a container wherein the separate collar element is dispensed with and at the same time the raw metal edge on the body due to the removal of the tear strip is adequately shielded so as to render it substantially harmless to persons handling the opened container.

In conventional containers of the subject type the container body is provided with a tear strip formed by two closely spaced parallel sco-re lines and having an extended portion or tongue to engage a key opener. The tear strip is wound about the key to tear it from the body of the container thereby separating the upper portion of the body and the attached top end closure from the lower portion of the body.

With this type of container, a separate collar element disposed within the body behind the tear strip is widely used. The collar is secured to the lower portion of the body and extends upwardly from the upper extremity of the lower portion to serve as a seat upon which the upper portion may be replaced to effect a reclosure of the opened container. The collar also tends to minimize the hazard presented by the sharp raw edge of the upper extremity of the lower portion of the body of the opened container. However, the provision of the separate collar adds materially to the overall cost of the container in addition to presenting manufacturing problems because of the fabrication and handling requirements of the multiple elements.

Various designs have been proposed in the past for collarless tear strip type containers all of which have disadvantages. One such container used for luncheon meats and similar products merely provides a tear strip in the container body. Upon removal of the tear strip to open the container, the sharp exposed edges produced on the separated body sections are extremely hazardous and consequently must be carefully handled to minimize the possibility of injury to the user. Such a container has the further disadvantage of being unadaptable for reclosure.

Another type of collarless tear strip container is made by scoring and forming a triple fold in a ilat body blank and then forming the blank into a container body having a tear strip adjacent a folded rim, the rim being utilized for reclosure purposes. However, such a design requires additional forming equipment to effect thebending and folding operations on the flat blank and to form the folded blank into the container body. Furthermore, removal of the tear strip usually expo-ses a sharp raw edge on the body of the container presenting considerable hazard to the user when the opened container is being handled or the contents are being removed.

Attempts in the prior art to overcome this disadvantage have generally involved positioning the score lines in the outermost layer of a triple fold so that the raw edge of the opened container body is adjacent to and partially shielded by the intermediate fold. However, since theV removal of the tear strip eXerts an outward tearing action tending to pull the outermost fold away from the intermediate fold, removal of the tear strip may result in increased exposure of the sharp raw edge on the opened container body and increased hazard therefrom.

3,055,539 Patented Sept. 25, 1962 rice An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal container with a tear strip opener which will overcome the problems hereinbefore pointed out.

Another object is to provide such a container wherein the need for a separate internal collar element is eliminated with a resultant savings in material.

Another object is to provide such a container wherein the potentially harmful raw edge on the container body remaining after the tear strip is removed is effectively shielded by an adjacent rounded bead.

A further object is to provide such a container wherein removal of the tear strip tends to pull the sharp raw edge remaining on the container body tighter against the adjacent rounded bead to further decrease its likelihood of causing harm.

Still a further object is to provide such a container wherein the separated upper portion of the opened container can be easily replaced and retained for effective reclosure of the container.

Yet a further object is to provide such a container which is simply constructed and can be cheaply and easily manufactured.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. l

The above objects are accomplished by providing a metal container comprising a body A with ends secured thereto. The body A has a tear strip B defined by two closely spaced parallel score lines circumscribing the body. Below the lower score line the imaterial of the body is formed and collapsed into a downwardly directed inner bend C and then into an upwardly directed outer band D so as to have the lower score line located adjacent to and inwardly from a rounded upper edge on the outer bead D. A key opener E is provided for removing the tear strip B in the conventional manner.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a metal container embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along line 2 2. of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the lower portion of the opened container after the tear strip and cover have been removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrating a modified form of the invention and showing the cover applied to the opened container and in use as a reclosure;

FIGURES 5, 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary sectional views similar to FIG. 2 illustrating modified forms of the invention.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIG. 1 shows a metal container comprising a body A having a side seam 11. As shown, the body A has a somewhat oval shape such as is used for canning whole hams and the' like. However, it is to be understood that other shapes including a cylindrical form may also be employed. A top end closure 12 and a bottom end closure 13 are secured to the body A preferably, though not necessarily, by the conventional double seams 14 and 15 respectively.

The body A has a pair of parallel score lines 16 and 17 (FIG. 2) around the inner surface of the body setting olf a narrow tear strip B. It is to be understood that the score lines defining the tear strip B may be located on either the outer or inner surface of the body A depending v upon the method of fabrication used. The tear strip B 3 the top end 12 is secured to the body A. However, other locations intermediate the ends would be equally suitable and may be desirable in some instances to facilitate removal of the contents from the opened container.

Immediately below the lower score rline 17 the container body A is bent at 19 inwardly and slightly downwardly, thence outwardly and sharply downwardly, and thence outwardly and sharply upwardly to a point adjacent the initial bend 19 thereby forming an inwardly directed somewhat triangularly shaped (as viewed in cross section, FIG. 2) hollow bead C having a rounded inner periphery 20. From the point adjacent the initial bend 19, the body A is bent downwardly approximately 180 and thence directed inwardly and sharply downwardly adjacent to the outwardly and sharply upwardly extending portion of the hollow bead C, thus forming a flattened outer bead D having a rounded upper edge 21. The rounded upper edge 21 projects slightly beyond the outer periphery of the container body A and is disposed adjacent to and outwardly from the lower score line 17.

A key opener E is removably secured to the top end 12. The container is opened by inserting the tongue 18 into the elongated slot 22 of the key opener E and winding the key opener along the periphery of the container. As the key opener E is thus being wound, it exerts an outward pulling action on the engaged tear strip B tearing it away along the score lines 16 and 17 thereby releasing the top end 12 from the body A.

As shown in FIG. 3 the raw metal edge 23 of the opened container produced by the lower score line 17 is positioned inwardly from and adjacent to the rounded upper edge 21 of the flattened outer bead D. Also the outward pulling action required to remove the tear strip B tends to pull the raw edge 23 closer to the bead D. Consequently, in the opened container the potentially harmful raw edge 23 is substantially shielded by the rounded edge 21 of the outer bead D and the likelihood of causing injury to the user is essentially precluded.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment shown, the upper score line 16 is positioned adjacent to the double seam 14. As a result, the raw edge 24 produced by the upper score line 16 when the tear strip B is removed, is

-underneath the double seam 14 and substantially contiguous to the countersink portion 25 of the top end 12 ,(see FIG. 4) thereby minimizing its exposure so that the hand of the user is also substantially protected from this raw edge. This feature is particularly desirable when the top end 12 is used as a reclosure.

A modified form of the invention in which the top end 12 is adapted to be used as a reclosure is shown in FIG. 4. In this form the top end 12 has the usual countersink portion 25 adjacent the double seam 14. At the base of the countersink portion 25 the end 12 is provided with an inward extension 26 which, when the end 12 is used as a reclosure, engages the upper surface of the inner bead C thereby serving as a stop shoulder. The top end 12 also has a downward extension 27 forming a plug 28. The plug 28 has a peripheral con-figuration substantially the same aS the rounded inner periphery 21 of the inner bead C to form a friction it therewith. In order to effect a more eiiicient reclosure the plug 28 may be provided with a plurality of outwardly struck nibs 29 formed on the lower edge of the downward extension 27. The nibs 29 snap into engagement beneath the bead C to yieldably retain the top end 12 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 4.

The modified forms of the invention shown in FIG- URES 5, 6, 7, and 8 have the added advantage of having either the interior or exterior surface of the container free of projections due to the beads formed in the body A, which features may be desirable in some applications. In the forms shown in FIGURES and 6, the rounded upper edge 21 of the outer bead D is located outside the outer periphery of the body A with the inner surface 30 of the inner bead C substantially flush with the adjacent inner surface of the body above and below said inner bead thereby providing a smooth inner surface on the container. The forms shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 have the rounded edge 21 disposed substantially in alignment with the outer periphery of the body A with the inner bead C and outer bead D being formed so that the outer surface 31 of the outer bead is substantially ush with the outer surface of the body above and below said outer bead.

It can be readily seen that the improved tear strip container disclosed is unique in that it embodies desirable structural features and at the same time may be easily manufactured. The elimination of the hazards presented by the sharp raw metal edge produced when the tear strip is removed is accomplished simply and effectively. The operation whereby the tear strip is torn away outwardly to open the container actually urges the sharp edge remaining on the can body toward the shielded position, rather than to increase the exposure of this raw edge and thereby increase the possible hazard therefrom as exemplified by the prior art. The tear strip structure disclosed also permits efficient and effective reclosure of the container in a very simple manner without the need for a complicated body conguration requiring involved manufacturing operations.

Furthermore, the simplicity of structure of the subject container permits it to be easily and cheaply fabricated. For example, by one possible method, the inner and outer beads may be produced by partially beading the conventionally formed body in a rolling operation after which the forming of the beads may be completed by collapsing the body. The collapsing operation may be performed simultaneously with the anging operation wherein the extremities of the body are flared outwardly preliminary to the attachment of the ends by double seaming. Consequently, the saving in both material and fabrication costs achieved by the elimination of the separate collar element would not be dissipated by a high cost of fabricating the subject container.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A metal container comprising, a seamed sheet metal body having an end secured thereto, two closely spaced parallel score lines circumscribing said body and defining a removable tear strip therebetween for separating said end from said body to open said container, the tear strip portion of said body consisting of a single thickness of said sheet metal, an upwardly extending first peripheral bead formed in said body, said bead having a rounded upper edge positioned adjacent to, and substantially in the saine transverse plane as outwardly from the lowermost score line, and a downwardly extending second peripheral bead formed in said body adjacent to and inwardly from said first bead and disposed slightly below said lowermost score line whereby upon removal of said tear strip by tearing in the outward direction, the severed edge formed by said lowermost score line is urged towards said rounded edge and is effectively shielded thereby so as to render it substantially harmless to persons handling the opened container.

2. The container set forth in claim l wherein said rounded edge is disposed outside the outer periphery of said body.

3. The container set forth in claim 2 wherein said body has an interior surface which is substantially in alignment and free of inwardly projecting irregularities.

4. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said rounded edge is disposed substantially in alignment with the outer periphery of said body.

5. The container set forth in claim 4 wherein said body has a substantially continuous outer surface -free of outwardly projecting irregularities.

6. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said score lines are disposed around the interior surface of said body.

7. The container set forth in claim 1 wherein said score lines are disposed around the exterior surface of said body.

8. A metal container comprising, a seamed sheet metal body having an end secured thereto, a rst peripheral bead formed in said body and extending inwardly and downwardly into said body, a second peripheral bead formed in said body and extending outwardly and upwardly im rnediately adjacent to said rst bead, said second bead having a rounded upper edge extending slightly beyond the outer periphery of said body, and two closely spaced parallel score lines circumscribing said body Iand deiining a removable tear strip therebetween for separating said end from said body to open said container, the tear strip portion of said body consisting of a single thickness of said sheet metal, the lowermost score line being located slightly above said rst bead and inwardly from, adjacent to and substantially in the same transverse plane as the rounded upper edge of said second bead whereby upon removal of said tear strip the severed edge formed by said lowermost score line is disposed adjacent `to and inwardly from said rounded edge of said second bead and is shielded thereby to render it substantially harmless to persons handling the opened container.

9. A metal container comprising a seamed sheet metal body having upper and lower ends secured thereto, the material of said body being bent inwardly and slightly downwardly, thence outwardly and sharply downwardly, thence outwardly and sharply upwardly to extend slightly beyond the outer periphery of said body, thence inwardly and sharply downwardly below and adjacent to said outwardly and sharply upwardly extending portion thereby forming an inwardly and downwardly directed hollow bead around said body with an outwardly and upwardly projecting attened bead immediately adjacent thereto, said flattened bead having a rounded upper edge disposed slightly beyond the outer periphery of said body, and two closely spaced parallel score lines circumscribing said body dening a removable tear strip therebetween for severing said body to open said container, the tear strip portion of said body consisting of a single thickness of said sheet metal, the lowermost score line being located slightly above said inwardly and slightly downwardly extending portion of said hollow bead and inwardly from, adjacent to and substantially in the same transverse plane as the rounded upper edge of said flattened bead whereby upon removal of said tear strip the severed edge formed by said lowermost score line is disposed adjacent to and inwardly from said rounded upper edge of said flattened bead and is shielded thereby to render it substantially harmless to persons handling the opened container.

10. The container set forth in claim 9 wherein said score lines are disposed around the interior surface of said body.

11. The container set forth in claim 10 wherein the uppermost score line is located adjacent the seam attaching said upper end to said body.

12. The container set forth in claim 11 wherein said upper end has a depressed portion extending into the interior of said body, said depressed portion having a vertical wall portion with an outer perimeter substantially equal to the inner perimeter of said inwardly directed hollow bead, said vertical wall engaging in frictional contact Within said bead when said upper end is used as a reclosure for the opened container.

13. The container set forth in claim 12 wherein said vertical wall has a plurality of outwardly struck nibs disposed to yieldably engage beneath said bead whereby said upper end is yieldably retained as the reclosure on said opened container.

14. 'Ihe container set forth in claim 13 wherein said body is cylindrically shaped.

15. The container set forth in claim 9 wherein said body is substantially ovate in horizontal cross-section.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,750,251 Young Mar. 11, 1930 1,750,380 Aulbach et al Mar. ll, 1930 2,496,568 Tomarin Feb. 7, 1950 2,694,502 Henchert Nov. 16, 1954 

